Lasting machine



De@ 2, lt94l- J. T. LANCASTER 2,264,577

LASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l E a6 Figl l DCC. 2, 1941e J. T. LANCASTER 2,254,577

LASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2, 1941.

y J. T. LANCASTER 2,264,577

LASTING MACHINE Filled Feb. '27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNi'iE. STATES 4 All j i' OFFECE.

LAST-ING MACHINE Jersey Application February 27, 194i?, Serial No. 321,072

l. (Cl. 12-8) 10 Ciaims.

This invention relates to lasting machinesr and more particularly to machines for lasting the waist portions of shoes. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a manually-operated machine having a flexible lasting apron for working an upper over a last and inwardly over the last bottom and pressing it into position to adhere to an insole on the last. It is to be understood, however, that the invention, in various novel aspects, is not limited to use in a machine for lasting the waist portions of shoes nor to a machine in which the apron is manipulated by the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the character above referred to having improved means for operating the apron in such a manner as to insure best results in working the waist portions of the upper into lasted relation to the insole. With this and other objects in view, the invention provides a last support upon which a last with its associated shoe materials may be positioned, an elastic lasting apron extending across the top of the forepart of the last, and means for stretching the apron heightwise of the last in a direction substantially normal to that portion of the bottom face oi the last that curves upwardly toward the heel end rearwardly of the ball line and then stretching it inwardly over the bottom face of the last at each side in a direction substantially normal to the edge curvature of the last bottom inthat location. In the illustrated construction this means comprises rolls at each side of the last, the rolls being mounted for bodily swinging movements about axes that extend heightwise and laterally of the last and are located adjacent one end of the last. Each roll is also mounted for free turning movement about an axis extending heightwise of the last and also for tipping movement about an axis extending laterally of the last. Each roll may thus accommodate itself to the varying lengthwise and heightwise curvatures of the opposite lateral faces of the last and thereafter may move inwardly over the bottom face of the last in a direction substantially normal to. the lengthwise curvature of the edge of the last bottom whileV accommodating itself to the heightwise curvature of the bottom face of the last.

The invention will be better understood when considered with relation to thel accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view in right-hand side elevation o a machine in which the invention is.. embodied,

portions of the structure being broken away to show more clearly the construction thereof;

Fig. 21 is aview inv front elevation of the machine shown vin Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine; and Fig. 4k is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. l. The illustrated machine comprises a base l0 upon which there are amounted a toe post I2 anda heel post I4 carrying means at their upper ends'for supporting a last and shoe, the toe and heel posts beingmounted for sliding movement toward and from each other in directions lengthwise of a shoe to accommodate shoes of different sizes. On the toe post is a forepart support comprising a block t6 hollowed out to receive thetop of' the forepart of the shoe, the block i6 being preferably lined with rubber to prevent marring of the shoe upper. The block is pivotally connected at |81 to a threaded stud 2E) in the toe post, the stud 20 being held against turning movement' in the toe postzby a key 22 carried by the stud and engaging a slot 24 in the toe post. The" stud 20 and the block I6 are adjustable` upwardly-and downwardly by means of a knurled nut 26- which bears on the top face ofthe toe posti I.2. Plates. 28 (Figs. l and 3), secured to the base III byY screws 21, form with the base a. guideway 29 for the toe post which may be held.' in any selected position in the gui'dewayby a wing screw 30.

The heel post I4 supports a block 3,2 carrying aspindle 3@ arranged to enter the spindle hole inl the heel end of the last. As shown, the block is pivotally connected. to the heel post for swinging movements about an axis extending laterally of' the shoe to permit tipping movements to be imparted to the spindle in directions toward and. from the forepart support l5. The heel post ht is supportedby a bushing 3a. threaded in a slide 35, the bushing surrounding a downwardly extending portion 31 of the heel' post andr having formedv on its lower end a head 38 by means of which the bushing may be rotated to vary the position of the heel post I4* and-the o b1ock32I heightwise of the shoe relatively to the forepartv support. The slide 36 is horizontally movable in the guidewayv 29, and for thus moving the slidef36 and with it the heel post, there is provided an adjustable screw 39 which is threaded in` the slide 36 and is provided at its inner end with aflange 41) arranged to enter a slot in the base Il] of 'the machine and at its outer end with a hand wheel, 4l' for turning it.

From the'above. description, it will'be evident that the Vforepart and, heel end. supportingmembers may be adjusted toward or from each other lengthwise of a shoe to accommodate shoes of different sizes. It will be equally clear that their related positions heightwise of the shoe may be varied to accommodate shoes of different styles, the construction being such as to permit each shoe to be positioned with its waist portion in predetermined relation to a flexible lasting apron 42. This apron, which is preferably made of rubber, extends laterally of the machine above the forepart support I6, and at each side thereof passes over a roll 44 and thence downwardly at each side of the support, each end portion of the apron being clamped between a pair of plates 46. Each pair of plates is pivotally connected at 41 (Fig. 1) to a stud 48 which passes through a lug 58 on the base I0 and has threaded on its outer end a nut 52 engaging the lug 59. By turning the nuts 52, it will be evident that the tension on the apron may be varied at will.

For tipping the block 32 and spindle 33 toward and away from the forepart support, there is provided a hand lever 54 keyed at 56 to a shaft 58 journaled in the heel post I4, the block 32 being also secured to the shaft 58 by a pin 60 (Fig. 2). By this means, when the hand lever 54 is raised, the heel pin will be tipped toward the forepart support I6 to press the forepart of the shoe and the apron 42, which in the illustrated construction extends across the top of the forepart of the shoe between the shoe and the forepart support, firmly down on the, forepart support. To lock the heel pin against reverse tipping movement, i. e., in a direction away from the forepart support, and thus to hold the last and shoe firmly in jacked position for the lasting operation, there is provided a.

ratchet plate 64 secured to the heel post I4. A; pawl 66 formed on the end of a pin 68 slidably movable in a bore formed in a boss 62 integral with the hand lever 54 is arranged by engagement with some one of a number of ratchet teeth 63 formed on the ratchet plate to hold the hand lever against downward swinging movement with the heel pin in the position to which it has been tipped in jacking the shoe. Release of the pawl is effected by a thumb lever 'I0 pivoted in a lug I2 on the hand lever 54 and notched at one end to fit over a screw 'I4 carried by the pin 68, the boss 62 being slotted to permit movement of the screw 'I4 and the pin 68 toward and away from' the ratchet plate 64. A spring-pressed pin 'I6 in the hand lever 54 tends normally to urge the thumb lever I in a direction to hold the pawl 66 in engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 63. It will be evident that the thumb lever 'IU may be pressed in the opposite direction by the operator against the resistance of the springpressed pin '|6 to withdraw the pawl 66, after which, with the pawl 66 held in withdrawn position, the hand lever 54 and the heel pin may be swung reversely and the last and shoe removed from the shoe supporting means.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention each of the rolls 44 is mounted on a short shaft 'I8 carried in a yoke 80 to which is secured a pin 82 journaled for pivotal movement in a bore in a link member 84. Axial movement of the pin 82 in the bore is prevented by a split collar 86 clamped to the pin by means of a screw and integral with a handle 88 keyed at 90 to the pin so that movement of the handle 88 will cause the roll to turn about the axis of the pin 82 which extends in a direction generally heightwise of the shoe. To provide for heightwise movement of the roll, the link 84 is pivotally connected at 85 to a lever 92 one end of which forms a handle 94 which may be grasped by the operator. The other end of the lever is connected by a pin 96 to a supporting member 98 in such manner that the lever may be swung about the axis of the pin, thereby moving the roll heightwise of the last. Itis to be noted that the pivotal connection between the lever 92 and the link 84 permits the roll to be tipped by up and down movement of the handle 88 about an axis extending transversely of the last, this axis in the illustrated embodiment of the invention being the axis of the pivotal connection between the link 84 and the lever 92. An adjustable stop screw |99 threaded through the lever 92 bears against the supporting member 98 and limits the downward movement of the lever 92.

As herein shown, the member 98 is mounted to turn about the axis of a shaft |92 that extends generally heightwise of the shoe. By this means the roll and the apron may be swung inwardly or outwardly as the curvature of the side of the last may require when the roll is being moved heightwise. This also permits the roll to be moved inwardly over the bottom face of the last. The shaft |02 is clamped in a split collar Ill-I integral with a member |05, heightwise movement of the supporting member 93 being prevented by a washer |98 bearing against a surface of the supporting member 98 and secured to the pin |92 by a screw IIU. The member |96 is free to swing about a horizontally extending shaft I I2 journaled in ears ||4 on the frame.

In the operation of the machine, briefly summarized, the operator, after adjusting the heel end and forepart supports for the size and style of shoe to be operated upon, mounts the last and shoe on the spindle 33. It will be understood that when the shoe is presented to the machine, the shoe materials, comprising an upper U and an insole S will have been previously assembled on the last L and preferably,

` although not necessarily, pulled over and fastened at the toe end by pulling over tacks. It will also be understood that cement will have been previously applied between the margins of the upper and the margin of the insole along the 'opposite sides of the waist portion of the shoe.

' port I6.

By means of the hand lever 54 the operator tips the last pin forwardly to force the forepart of the shoe into the lasting apron 42 and to clamp the shoe and apron against the forepart sup- The operator is now free to operate upon one side of the shoe at a time and manipulation of one of the rolls will affect only that portion of the apron between the forepart support and the corresponding end of the apron.

In performing the actual lasting, the operator grips the lever 92 and with its swings the roll and the apron inwardly toward the shoe about the shaft |02 until the apron is pressed tightly against the upper by the roll 44. The roll is then raised by swinging the lever 92 about its pivotal pin 96 to stretch the apron heightwise of the last in a direction substantially normal to that portion of the bottom face of the last that curves downwardly toward the heel end rearwardly of the ball line. During this upward movement the roll and apron are also held in tight engagement with the upper by lateral pressure on the handle 94. The roll is thus caused to Afollow ntl-ier: heightwise i curvature? of the 'laterali face of the last-,l as-it isimoved-*upward-l'y to stretch the apron, byireason: of "the fact f thatl it is L free;

to turn about-the axisof Vvthe-pin 82; the. operator aty thesame; timefturning'the -member 98"; 5 apron'.forconformingiarruppelttothe contourofv aboutthevaxistof the-shaft I02'to holdfthe rollf pressedA against-the apron.- Asthefrollmoves over that portion of vthe. lateral face of"the1ast that curvesinwardly toward its :bottom face, the. op'- erator' may, by manipulationof i thehandle; 8.8;

turn the` roll aboutxthe axisfof the pin 82..to:

insure-I tlflat the roll will movewtoward. the., bottom `face of fthe last in .-a direction* substantially normal to its edge curvature. movedjinwardlyA over thebottom rofithe lasti. by

further.y lateral*` swinging .movement off the v 'hand i leverril, theI marginal portion offf'thezupper` isi laid inwardlyrov'er the: soleSv andgpressedsinto positionl tol adhere to'. the-insole, .thee rollY acting through .the-.apron to'. increase the :pressure on theapron on the margin ofzthe upper: Itawill be understoodthatLas the-zrolltisfthus moved .in

wardly@ over: the?. insole, theffyokezl; is vfree toA tip about: theA axisxof its pivotal connection to the; hand 'ileyer 922to:permitfthe;roll to accommodate; itself. to `the heightwise `curvature of the :bottom face-of theinsole;

After the.:v marginal .por-tioni of; the upper.` has. thusr beeny laidY inwardly? over. the insole*v and' pressed into postionto adhereitotheinsole; the

pressure of: the: apron on zthe:` overlaid. margin` may be further increased by downwardmoyement of theY hand lever 92 and; the; marginal portion. ofthe upper thus heldgin lastediposition untilV .35? posite end-,portions of the apron'at opposite sides thev cement has set sui'ciently `to holdfthe upper.l The nroll at that: side of :the Ashoe is .rthenzreturned to its initial position, and the-'operations above' described: performed atethe opposite side of the shoe. It will be obvious of course that effective use of the apron and rolls is not conned to the manner hereinbefore described but their best use will be dependent to some extent upon the skill and judgment of the operator.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a lasting machine, the combination of a support for a last and its associated shoe materials, a flexible elastic apron extending across the top of the forepart of the last, and means for stretching the apron heightwise of t-he last in a direction substantially normal to that portion of the bottom face of the last that curves upwardly toward the heel end, rearwardly of the ball line, and then inwardly over the bottom face of the last at each side in a direction substantially normal to the edge curvature of the last bottom in that location to conform the upper tightly to the contours of the lateral faces of the last and to lay the margin of the upper 60 inwardly over an insole on the bottom face of the last.

2. In a lasting machine, means for supporting a last and its shoe materials, a flexible elastic apron for conforming an upper to the contour of a last by frictional engagement with the upper at opposite sides of the last, and a roll arranged to act through said apron to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the last, said roll being mounted to turn about an axis extending generally in a direction heightwise of the last during its inward movement to cause it thus to act on the marginal portion of the upper in a direction substantially normal to As the rroll is-- a last '.byv 'frictional :l engagement with: the upper atzoppositeasides:ofthe'last, and a roll? engaging the apron andimovableinwardlyover'the bottomI face ofthellast to 4cause'thev apron toxlayrthe.

i marginal portion of th'e.- upper inwardlyfoveran insole-'on the last,.said roll being mounted' to. turns about' an axisheightwise of the last' to accommodatefitself! tozthe lengthwise curvature' of: the edge of the last botto and'means for. thus 155 turning.A said'iroll.

. 4; Irr a lasting-machine',- rneansxiorVv supporting;` al lastland: its.- shoe materials, aflexible. elastic apron: for conforming an upper to thecontour. offa:lastbyifriotional engagement iwiththev upper:

201.' atoppositesides of the last, and a rolllengagingu the apron :and movable inwardly over the bottom face .of the last to cause the apron to lay'theH marginal `portion of the upper inwardlyoveri'arr` insole'oni.- the last, said rollbeing mounted tol 2&2 turn about anaXis extending. heightwise ofA the last to accommodate itself to the vlengthwise 1eurvature ofthe edge ofthe lastibottom and to tip aboutan axis extending transversely 4of Saidilast. to accommodate itselfto the heightwisefcurva- Lture of thebottomifaceof the last.

5. In a: lasting machine, means for supporting aflast;an'd:its*shoe materials, a flexible elastic' apron aarranged Yto vextend` across theftop of the fore'partfofithe last, means -for securingtheopof j the f last' and Ybelow its bottom.l face, ,devices-v4 arrangedyto engageA the',y apron atv the-1 opposite-vsidsf ofi the 1 last' betweenthe ylast l' and f thev ends ofthe apron, andy means for vmoving-said devices 40 relatively to said securing means heightwise of the last in a direction substantially normal to that portion of the bottom face of the last that curves upwardly toward the heel end rearwardly of the ball line and then inwardly over its bottom face in directions substantially normal to the upper inwardly over an insole on the last.

6. In a lasting machine, means for supporting a last and its shoe materials, a flexible elastic apron arranged to extend across the top of the forepart of the last, means for securing the opposite end portions of the apron at opposite sides of the last, and rolls arranged to engage the apron at the opposite sides of the last between the last and the endg of the apron and by movement heightwise of the last and inwardly over its bottom face to stretch the apron about the last and to cause it to conform the upper tightly to the heightwise curvatures of the lateral faces of the last and to lay its marginal portion inwardly over an insole on the last, each of said rolls being mounted to turn about an axis extending generally heightwise of the last to permit the roll to accommodate itself to the lengthwise curvature of the edge of the last bottom in laying the marginal portion of the upper through the apron inwardly over the insole.

at opposite sides of the last, manually-operated means for moving said rolls in directions heightwise of the last and inwardly over its bottom face to stretch the apron about the last and to cause it to conform the upper tightly to the heightwise curvatures of the lateral faces of the last and to lay its marginal portion inwardly over an insole on the last, and means enabling the operator to turn said rolls about axes extending generally heightwise of the last during l their inward movement to cause the rolls to move inwardly over the bottom of the last in directions substantially normal to the edge curvatures of the last bottom.

8. In a lasting machine, means for supporting 1 a last and its shoe materials, a flexible elastic apron for conforming an upper to the contour of a last by frictional engagement with the upper at opposite sides of the last, and rolls at opposite sides of the last, said rolls being mounted for bodily swinging movements about different axes adjacent one end of the last and extending heightwise and transversely of the last, said rolls being arranged to act through the apron to hold the upper in intimate contact with the sides of the last while stretching the apron about the last to cause the apron to conform the upper tightly to the heightwise curvatures of the lateral faces of the last and to lay its marginal portion inwardly over an insole on the last. 3

9. In a lasting machine, means for supporting a shoe at the heel end and at the forepart, a exible elastic apron arranged to extend across the top of the forepart of the shoe in position to be clamped between the shoe and said sup- 3 porting means, means i'or securing the opposite end portions of the apron at opposite sides of the last, and devices for engaging the apron and for pressing it against the opposite sides of the shoe,

said devices being mounted for bodily movements heightwise of the last and inwardly over its bottom face thereby to stretch the apron to cause it by frictional contact with the upper to work the upper into tight conformity to the heightwise curvatures of the lateral faces of the last and to lay its marginal portions inwardly over an insole on the last, said devices being also mounted for free turning movement about axes extending heightwise of the last to maintain the proper lateral pressure on the apron and to move inwardly over the bottom face of the last in directions substantially normal to the edge curvatures thereof.

10. In a lasting machine, means for supporting a last and its shoe materials, said means comprising a forepart support and a heel pin mount ed for tipping movements in directions toward and from said forepart support, a flexible elastic apron arranged to extend across the top of the forepart of the last in position to be clamped between the forepart support and the shoe in response to the tipping of said heel pin toward the forepart support, means for locking the heel pin against tipping movement in a direction away from said forepart support, means for securing the opposite end portions of the apron at opposite sides of the last, and devices arranged to engage the apron at the opposite sides of the last between the shoe and the ends of the apron, and

by movement relative to said securing means heightwise of the last and inwardly over its bottom face to stretch the apron about the last to cause it to conform the upper tightly to the heightwise curvatures of the lateral faces of the last and to lay its marginal portion inwardly over an insole on the last.

JOHN T. LANCASTER. 

